Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-12-23
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A CHRISTMAS STORY.

held the hall door open, while ne,
attired ia brown velveteen with
corduroy leggins to match, wheeled
his machine down the steps. She
smiled, thinking of his boyish days,
when Christmas without snow cast
a gloom over his merry little heart.
She said nothingbuta cherry "good-
Bye however, as he went through
the gate, and watched him with
proud eyes leap into the saddle and
roll gracefully down the avenue
The pure, crisp air blew the brown
ringlets in waves across her fore
head, as she stopped and broke
trcm a holly-bush a bunch OF the
shining, scarlet berries.
Fred felt inexpressibly happy as
he started on that brisk morning
ride; he had the feeling Of indie
pendence that belonged to him as
a university sophomore; he be-
strobe a glittering new machine OF
which he was not a little proud ;
and more than all, he was going 10
call on a young lady whose laugh
ing eyes and rosy lips had haunted
him through three long months OF
term work. Perhaps Miss Ethel
would be out ;; the thought made
him quicken his pace. "ln that
case" thought Master Fred, 81 will
chase her pony all over the coun-
try" He turned off the avenue,
down a cross street, smooth and
hard, and lined on either side by
great elms. On one Of these Fred
heard tremendous racket, and
soon discovered a colony OF rocks,
cawing and chattering IN the bare
branches. AS he rode under them,
the flock rose with a whirr; Fred
turned his head to watch them at
that instant his wheel struck some
thing very solid, and its careless
rider, describing the quarter OF a
circle over the obstacle, landed fiat
upon his back in front OF it. For a
few seconds the multitude of stars,
moons and planets that danced be-
fore his eyes prevented his seeing
anything else but burst of agl-
tated laughter brought him stimuli
taneously TO his feet and his senses.
In front of him was a dainty little
tricycle.. On one halt of the cush-
toned seat sat a young lady, her
tiny boots OF the pedals, one gloved
hand on the steering handle, the
other hidden in a little muff upon
her lap. Her brown eyes were
turned upon our hero with a mix
ture of amusement, anxiety and
vexatlon. Fred dotted his cap.
al really beg pardon. Did 1 do
any damage. 1t was awfully care
less, but didn't see you at ALL
$50 l imagined when your bicy-
Gle ran me down." she answered
with demure mischief.
"Are you quite sure that you are
not at all hurt !" he asked again,
anxiously.
"Not in the least; but my car
rage may have suffered" and she
glanced over 1t with solicitous air.
Fred made a careful inspection and
finally reported all right, then CON-
menced again his apologies. The
truth IL, this susceptible young
man had evidently forgotten his in
tended call, and had literally taken
a header in love on the spot. Per-
haps the young lady knew it, for
she thanked him with winning
fraDkness and a glance that he re-
membered long afterward. How
ever, nothing remained to be done
but to tip his cap and rescue his
machine from the gutter, which he
did, regardless of bent handle
bar. The tricycle. was still motion
less as he turned again into the
road. and its charming rider looked
at him with perplexity.
81 am very sorry, but think the
axleI must be bent" she said, as
he fastened to her 81 can hardly
move IT." a hasty examination
showed him that she was right
Here was indeed a dilemma, and
now a happy thought struck Mas
ter Fred.
"Won't you let me help you home
Sith itf l can leave my bicycle in
side this hedge just as well as not,
and really ought to, you know,
after being so Careless he added,
trying not to appear too eager
She thanked him with a slightly
vexed smile, hesitated a moment,
and then made room for him beside
her. Yon may be assured that Fred
was not long in wheeling his ma
chine in back OF the Usage hedge
and seating himself beside this very
pretty lady.
"Shall | steer ?' she asked, quiet
ly.
ayes, and l will manage the
brake" answered he, casting an
adminng glance at the glOved
Singers so firmly clasped around
the ebony, and thinking, perhaps,
that if any breaking was done, it
would probably be his susceptible
heart. In a moment they we're
rolling along the street, her little
feet following bis as he worked